Hi everyone! My name is Ava Momtazi, and I am currently studying Spanish language and culture here in Segovia, Spain.
To start off, I must day I've been having an absolute blast. Living in a beautiful, walkable city with cobblestone streets and a great cafe culture in Segovia has been a highlight.
Simultaneously, I've spent some time reflecting on my identity as a first-generation Iranian-American woman and immigrant and how that intersects with my time here in Spain.
I've wrestled with questions of identity ever since I immigrated to the United States from Iran at the age of seven. As a second grader, I found myself juggling two identities and living in two worlds: my Iranian life, which I shared with my family, and my American life, which I showed to the outside world. Looking back, the transition was difficult. Being the only Persian speaker in my entire school was incredibly isolating. For a while, the only place I was able to fully converse and express myself was at home. Slowly, though, I began to pick up the language and piece together sentences. That experience has shaped the way I see myself here in Spain. Once again, I am in an unfamiliar place, becoming accustomed to a new language and culture. Like before, the beginning has been challenging, but I think back to my seven-year-old self and how she learned to not only adapt, but persevere. In retrospect, the discomfort I feel now pales in comparison to what seven-year-old me overcame. Oddly enough, she is the one I'm most inspired by, and the one I look up to.
I have now been in Spain for over a month, and as time has passed, I no longer feel embarrassed about my Spanish-speaking skills. In fact, I feel confident. Conversing with locals at the club or in other social settings has become one of my favorite activities.
This experience has given me so much to think about and I'm excited to see how my understanding of myself and my language skills continue to develop throughout my time here.
Tune in for the next blog!
Thanks for reading,
Ava Momtazi, Spanish Language and Culture in Segovia